Military An-26 Aircraft Crashes in Crimea, 29 Dead

An An-26 military transport aircraft has crashed in the territory of Crimea, resulting in the deaths of all 29 people on board. This information was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to the Ministry, search and rescue teams have located the crash site. Preliminary reports indicate that 6 crew members and 23 passengers perished in the accident.

The Ministry’s initial assessment suggests that the crash was caused by a technical malfunction. Officials stated that there was no evidence of external impact or damage to the aircraft.

The Russian Ministry of Defense previously reported that contact with the An-26 was lost at approximately 6:00 PM local time on March 31. The aircraft was performing a scheduled flight over the territory of annexed Crimea at the time of the incident.